Book Review: The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho

If you’re looking to read an interview after the epilogue of a book, this is DEFINITELY your kind of book.

Optimists need to stay the hell away from this book, and I am not even exaggerating. If you are the kind of person who thinks people not paying back your money is an opportunity for you to work on your people skills, this book is NOT for you.

If you have been thinking about quitting your job for the last eighteen months, then you my friend need to stay away from the temptation that is reading The Alchemist.

Do you think you are happy with your life, but have to cry yourself to sleep every night? Do yourself a favor, do NOT even read one chapter of The Alchemist.

Do you stare into the stars every night (even when it is a clear sky), and get mushy over beautiful sunsets? If the answer is yes, then use your copy of The Alchemist to light your sigiri and enjoy the katogo you plan on preparing.

If you are having fights with your family or significant other, do NOT read this book.

This book is NOT for you.

However, if you are in a good place in life (whatever that means), and are living a well-rounded/balanced life then there is a chance that you should read The Alchemist. Just a chance though, there is guarantee that you will be immune to it.

I am not sure whether I believe in magic, but The Alchemist really took me down that path. Even reading all the Harry Potter books (more than once) didn’t do that.

It’s like The Alchemist has a spell that, if you are not careful, can make you act insane. I’m talking ‘sell all your property to follow your dream because there is no such thing as a coincidence, only omens’ kind of insanity that goes hand in hand with the ‘if you want something, the universe will conspire to help you get it’ madness.

It’s a book about family, love, hard work, travel, wealth, dreams… I don’t think I can list them all. The Alchemist is about life, so if you are living (not alive there’s a difference) or want to live (not merely be alive) – you should definitely read it.